Apparatus and method for the manufacture of dry cell batteries

ABSTRACT

This invention pertains to the apparatus and method for the manufacture of dry cells and in particular those generally known as &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;leak-proof.&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; In the preferred embodiment the dry cell is provided with an outer case of metal which is provided to protect the internal structure of the battery. This case and the internal assembly in this invention is collated and assembled by apparatus and method enabling dry cells of this type to be completed at a rate of such as twenty a second.

United States Patent [1 1 Verhoest A Apr. 9, 1974 APPARATUS AND METHODFOR THE MANUFACTURE OF DRY CELL BATTERIES [75] Inventor: George G.Verhoest, Wayne, NJ.

[73] Assignee: Emat Co., Inc., Fairlawn, NJ.

[22] Filed: June 2, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 259,155

[52] US. Cl 29/204, 29/511, 29/592 [51] Int. CL... H0lm 35/18, B23p11/00, l-lOls 4/00 [58] Field of Search 29/204, 204 D, 204 R, 511,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,069,754 12/1962 Wahlin29004 D 12/1965 Simonton 29/511 4/1967 Oswald 29/204 D Primary ExaminerThomas H. Eager Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ralph Roberts [57] ABSTRACTThis invention pertains to the apparatus and method for the manufactureof dry cells and in particular those generally known as leak-proof." 1nthe preferred embodiment the dry cell is provided with an outer case ofmetal which is provided to protect the internal structure of thebattery. This case and the internal assembly in this invention iscollated and assembled by apparatus and method enabling dry cells ofthis type to be completed at a rate of such as twenty a second. 0

18 Claims, 41 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 9 1974 SHEEI 1 BF 8 E 90 2 20r 20 3 5 mm qm mm IF. 3 mm mm 0 0 20 on o QN ON 2 90 m: 90 3 20 NN ON ONON\ IMN PATENTEHAPR 9 m4 sumanrs IIO r FI.G.3M"

FIG.3 K

FIG. 3 P

FIG. 3-0

EATENTED APR 9 5974 SHEU 4 BF 8 PATENTEDAPR 9:914 3302.050 saw semPATENTEU APR 9 i974 SHEET 6 0F 8 PATENTEDAPR 9|974 I 3.802050 SHEEIIUFSAPPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF DRY CELL BATTERIESBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention With respect tothe classification of art as established in the United States PatentOffice this invention pertains to the general class of Batteries andmore particularly to the subclass identified as assembling process.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the automatic or semiautomaticmanufacture of batteries most of the published art including U.S. andforeign patents has been directed toward the manufactureof lead storagebatteries commonly known as having a wet cell structure. In the presentmanufacture of dry cells, insofar as is known, the assembly apparatusand technique presently used is more or less automated. Because of thegreatly expanded use of dry cells and the cost of making them it becomesvery desirable, if not essential, that an improvement in themanufactureof the dry cell be achieved so as to shorten the manufacturing time aswell as reduce the cost of equipment and labor as well as increase thequantity and quality control of the product. Several United StatesPatents directed toward the automatic manufacture of dry cells areknown. Among these are U.S. Pat. No. 3,069,754 to Wahlin which issued onDec. 25, 1962. A patent for the method for producing closures in batterycontainers is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,221,403 as issued to Simontonon Dec. 7, 1965. A U.S. Pat. No. 3,316,127 to Oswald as issued on Aug.25, 1967 describes a method and apparatus for the manufacture of drycells in which is claimed improvements on prior described apparatus. Inthese patents and other known apparatus the apparatus and method for themanufacture of dry cells has not produced the now desired speed orquality control required to satisfy present needs. The present inventiondiscloses improvements and novel methods and apparatus for thehigh-speed assembly of so-called leak-proof dry cells.

In the present invention the improved method of manufacture andapparatus for assembling dry cells includes high-speed assembly of thecardboard tube assembly and high-speed collating and assembly of theinner battery into the cardboard tube assembly and then into theprotective outer shell. In this improved method andapparatus thecomponents going into these dry cells and particularly the casing andinner assembled members of the dry cell are grasped and positivelycontrolled during all steps of the operationso that the high-speedassembly results in a completely assembled dry cell delivered such asevery twentieth of a second.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention may be summarized at least inpart with reference to its objects.

It is an object of this invention to provide, and it does provide, amethod and apparatus for the high-speed forming of components as used inthe production of dry cells and in the collating and assembling of saidcomponents into a dry cell.

It is a further object of this invention to provide, and it doesprovide, a method and apparatus for the spinning assembly of a cardboardsleeve to a sheetmetal disc bottom 'member asused in drycellconstruction.

It is a further object of this invention to provide, and it doesprovide, a method and apparatus wherein a continuous motion apparatus isprovided to feed and assemble an inner battery assembly within acardboard sleeve and with these assembled, to assemble this unit to anouter metal or plastic protective sleeve as used in dry cells.

Although dry cell batteries have been known for many years the automaticassembly of such cells has not developed in a manner to keep pace withthe demand and consumption. Automatic assembly procedures usually haveprogressed only to subassembly components and the speed is not veryrapid. In the present invention certain steps of manufacture areindicated which are performed with known conventional equipment. Incertain other operations such as the invention uses apparatus andmethods which are considered new and novel. There isadditionally'disclosed a continuous operation for feeding the innerbattery assembly to and into a simultaneously fed and positionedcardboard tube assembly. The completion of this assembly is followed inthe same apparatus with inserting this assembly into an outer metalprotective cover. From this station this subassembly component is fed toa seal support washer inserting station from which this assembly isnowfed to a pitch applying station where the top of the battery issealed by fluid material which is thermoplastic. This pitch is appliedto the area above the zinc can and the seal support washer and seals thecardboard tube and the carbon rod to prevent unwanted leakage. Thisassembly is then fed to the top metal cap applying station after whichthe top of the battery is closed as by crimping or spinning. If desired,an additional cardboard washer may be inserted on top of the pitchbefore the top metal cap is inserted and crimped in place.

In addition to the above summary the following disclosure is detailed toinsure adequacy and aid in understanding of the invention. Thisdisclosure, however, is not intended to prejudice that purpose of apatent which is to cover each new inventive concept therein no matterhow it may later be disguised by variations in form or additions orfurther improvements. For this reason there has been chosen a specificembodiment of the dry cell and the apparatus and method as adopted formaking a conventionally constructed leak-proof" dry cell. This specificembodiment has been chosen for the purposes of illustration anddescription as shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1A through FIG. I? arediagrammatic representations of the assembly for forming the componentsof a dry cell battery and showing the several stations where is producedthe various components and the simultaneous or subsequent assemblingrequired to make a dry cell andas depicted:

FIG. lA representsa drawn shell;

FIG. 1B represents a shell with a liner being added;

FIG. 1C represents a shell assembly completed;

FIG. 1D represents the shell of FIG. 1C with mix being added;

FIG. 1E represents the assembly of FIG. 1D with a rod being inserted;

FIG. 1F represents a cardboard shell positioned with bottom cup;

FIG. 1G represents the assembly of the bottom cup to the cardboardshell;

FIG. lI-I represents the assembly of FIG. 1E into the assembly of FIG.1G;

FIG. ll represents a drawn metal outer shell;

FIG. 11 represents placing assembly FIG. lI-I into shell of FIG. ll;

FIG. 1K represents placing top washer into the shell of FIG. lJ;

FIG. 1L represents the assembly of FIG. 1K to which is added anotherwasher;

FIG. 1M represents the assembly of FIG. 1L to which a sealant is beingadded;

FIG. IN represents the assembly of FIG. IM to which another washer isbeing added;

FIG. 1P represents the completed battery;

FIG. 2A, FIG. 28, FIG. 2E, FIG. 2G, FIG. 2H, FIG. 21 and FIG. 20 arediagrammatic representations showing the arrangement and sequence ofsteps wherein various mechanisms are utilized to produce a dry cellassembly up to the point of adding the sealant and the final assembly ofthe apparatus and as depicted:

FIG. 2A represents the arrangement of apparatus for forming andtransporting the can;

FIG. 28 represents components for the assembly into an inner shell;

FIG. 2D represents the step of adding the mix;

FIG. 2E represents the step of adding the carbon rod;

FIG. 2G represents the step of adding a bottom to the cardboard tube;

FIG. 2H represents the step ofcurling the bottom to the cardboard tube;

FIG. 2.] represents the apparatus and step of transferring batterycomponents;

FIG. 20 represents the feeding of the cardboard tube to a turret head;

FIG. 3K, FIG. 3M, FIG. 3-0, and FIG. 3P are diagrammatic representationsshowing the inserting of certain tamping and closing discs, sealingmaterial and the closing of the top of the dry cell and as depicted:

FIG. 3K represents the step of punching out a cardboard disc;

FIG. 3M represents apparatus for adding sealing pitch simultaneously toseveral assemblies;

FIG. 3-0 represents the feeding of a sheet metal cover to the assembly;

FIG. 3? represents the curling die configuration for sealing the top ofthe battery;

FIG. 4 represents a side view, partly diagrammatic and showing apparatusfor receiving a cardboard tube from a discharge conveyor and formounting this tube on a support pin of a turret head;

FIG. 5 represents a face or front view, partly diagrammatic and showingthree stages of assembling and forming the cardboard tube assembly;

FIG. 6 represents a partly diagrammatic sectional view showing thefeeding of a strip stock to and between cutting and forming dies;

FIG. 7 represents a partly diagrammatic side view of the press mechanismfor cutting and forming the sheet metal end blank;

FIG. 8 represents a sectional view showing in enlarged view the dies forforming the bottom end member with the dies in an open condition;

FIG. 9 represents the sectional view of the dies of FIG. 8 but in aclosed condition and with the end member formed therein;

FIG. 10 represents a sectional view, partly diagrammatic and showing thespinning die as used to turn the cardboard tube and seal the end metalmember into an assembled condition;

FIG. 11 represents an enlarged view of the end of the cardboard tubeprovided by the seal spinning apparatus of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 represents'a side view, partly diagrammatic, of the transferapparatus and assembly apparatus for the battery subassembly;

FIG. 13 represents a partly diagrammatic plan view looking downwardly onthe apparatus of FIG. 12, the view taken on the line l3-l3 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 represents an enlarged fragmentary sectional side view of theassembly showing the receiving, transfer and assembly turrets of themechanism of FIG. 12, the view taken on the line 14-14 thereof andlooking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 15 represents a layout of the box cam as provided on the fixed camsupports of the apparatus of FIGS. 12 and 13, and

FIG. 16 represents a diagrammatic sectional side view similar to theview of FIG. 9 and showing a top die as used to cut and form the sheetmetal top member of the container.

In the following description and in the claims various details will beidentified by specific names for convenience. These names, however, areintended to be generic in their application. Corresponding referencecharacters refer to like members throughout the several figures of thedrawings.

The drawings accompanying, and forming part of, this specificationdisclose certain details of construction for the purpose of explanationof the broader aspects of the invention, but it should be understoodthat structural details may be modified in various respects withoutdeparture from the concept and principles of the invention and that theinvention may be incorpo rated in other structural forms than shown.

General Assembly of Dry Cell as in FIG. 1

Referring now in particular to FIG. 1 there is depicted a diagrammaticrepresentation of the several stages of forming and assembling thecomponents which make up a complete dry cell. ALthough severaloperations usually are simultaneously performed the several operationsare shown in sequence. The first and essential or basic component is aseamless drawn shell or can 20 of zinc or zinc alloy drawn to thedesired size and configuration of the dry cell. This shell is advancedfrom station FIG. 1A to station FIG. 13 where a bottom paper washer orcup 22 and a cylindrical paper liner 23 is positioned centrally abovethe shell or cam 20. At station FIG. 1C the cup and liner 22 and 23 aremounted in the zinc shell 20. At station FIG. ID a mix 24 of determinedquantity is fed into thelined can of FIG. 1E. This mix is damp or wetand usually contains a portion of carbon black or other conductivematerial.

This assembly of can and mix is identified as 25. At station FIG. 1E acarbon rod 26 is inserted into the mix 24. This assembly is identifiedas 27.

The subassembly 27 is now an electrolytic cell or battery. The paper cup22 and liner 23 in a conventional manner permit the fluid component ofmix 24 to contact zinc shell 20 and carbon rod 26 while preventingcontact of the bottom of rod 26 with the bottom of the shell or cup 20.

At station FIG. 1F a cardboard tube 29 is assembled to a formed metalbottom plate 30 which conventionally is of steel with an antirustcoating usually provided thereon. At station FIG. [G the bottom plate 30is pushed into the bottom of the cardboard tube 29 and assembled to eachother as by a spinning operation to be hereinafter more fully described.This assembly is identified as 32. As station FIG. lI-I the internalbattery subassembly 27 is lowered into the cardboard tube and bottomassembly 32 which is positioned in way of the inserting path of thisinternal subassembly. After the inner battery assembly 27 is pushed intothe cardboard tube assembly 32 and is firmly seated therein thisassembly becomes a general assembly 33. This general battery assembly isthen moved to a position above station FIG. lI-I from where it is placedwithin and firmly seated in a steel outer shell 34. This outer shell iscut from tubing or from strip stock and is rolled into a shell, whichshell provides the protective covering for the battery and preventsundue damage to the battery from normal handling and use. This formedshell is shown in Station FIG. ll.

The battery as assembled at FIG. 1] and identified as 36, for allintents and purposes, is now complete except for covering and closingthe top. Assembly 36 is now advanced from station FIG. 1] to stationFIG. 1K where a top cardboard washer 37 is punched from strip stock andis inserted into the top of the battery to tightly surround the carbonrod 26 and tightly engage the interior wall of the zinc can 20. Washer37 isadvanced by mechanism, not shown, and as it is seated in thecontainer acts as a tamping washer to insure that the mix is tightlypacked and retained. The tamped mix 24 and carbon rod 26 are retained bythis washer. The inserting of the tamping washer 37 into the can 20 insome installations is done immediately after inserting of the carbon rod26 into the mix 24. That is to say that after station FIG. IF the nextoperation is station FIG. 1K before the assembly FIG. I]. This is merelya matter of choice. At station FIG. 1L another cardboard washer 38 ispunched from stock and inserted into the top of the zinc can 20. Thiswasher 38 is spaced one-sixteenth to three-sixteenths of an inch fromand above tamping washer 37. This washer 38 provides the upper wall ofan expansion chamber and acts as a seal to retain the melted outersealant to be applied to the battery at the next station. The assemblywith this washer is identified as 39. From station FIG. 1L the assembly39 is transported to station FIG. 1M where a thermoplastic sealer suchas pitch, waxsplastic or the like 40 is fed from a supply hopper 41 tocover the cardboard disc 38 and the top of the battery with a sealer ofdetermined thickness of material. This sealer prevents the evaporationor any decomposition of the mix from flowing out the top of the battery.The sealing material 40 may be delivered at temperatures in excess offour hundred degrees farenheit when. certain asphalt derivatives areused, or at lesser temperatures where other materials including asphaltsare used. This assembly 42 is now moved to station FIG. 1N where anouter cardboard cover disc 43 is applied to cover the top of thesealant. This assemblyis now moved to station FIG. 10 whereat a topmetal cap usually of steel and having a rustproof covering thereon ispressed into place. This top cover is identified as number 44 and afterbeing placed in position this assembly 45 is moved to station FIG. 1Pwherein a spinning operation or curling operation is performedto closethe top of the battery to complete the assembly of the battery. Ifdesired cover disc 43 and station N may be eliminated. A

Assembly as in FIG. 2

In FIG. 2 is a more or-less diagrammatic representa- 7 tion of theapparatus used in the assembly procedure of FIG. 1 and showing certainpertinent stages of assem' bly. The steps represented in FIG. 2correspond to the steps in FIG. 1. At station FIG. 2A upper and lowerdies 50 and 51 conventionally blank and form the zinc shell or can 20which is delivered to flow down a conveyor or chute 53 to a conveyor 54where it is carried in spaced relationship to station B whereat the cupmember 22 and liner 23 are fed into and positioned in can 20. At stationFIG. 2D from a hopper 56 and through a spout 58 is fed the mix 24 intothe can 20. As assembly 25 this unit is then fed to station FIG. 2Ewhere carbon rod 26 is inserted and positioned in the mix 24.

At station FIG. 20 which is prior to station FIG. 20 a turret head 60carries a plurality of equally spaced pins 62, one of which is shown asextending to the right of the head 60. The previously cut cardboardtubes 29 are fed through a chute 64 and in way of a pusher 66 and onto asupport or retaining member 67 which positions the gravity fed cardboardtubes 26 so that they may be pushed by pusher 66 from the receivingposition on support 67 and onto a positioned pin 62. While still on pin62 the tube 29 is moved with turret 60 to an indexed position whereatthe cardboard sleeve is brought in way of a steel bottom end 30 whichend is punched from a strip of steel stock 69 having a rust resistingtreatment on its flat surface. Dies 70 and 71 provide the means by whichthe steel bottom 30 is blanked and drawn and after forming andseparation is delivered down chute 72 to a receiving stop 73 wherefromit is moved by pusher 74 into the end of the cardboard tube 26. Turret60 is then rotated to another position indicated as position 3 andstation FIG. 2H whereat a curling die 76, to be described in greaterdetail herein after, is advanced into operative condition and is rotatedby a motor 78. This motor is carried on a reciprocated carriage79 so asto be moved into a determined position for curling the end of thecardboard tube to and into the rim portion of the bottom end 30. Afterthis assembling by curling process has been completed the die iswithdrawn from working engagement and the assembly 33 is discharged fromits pin 62 and down a delivery chute 81 for delivery to a conveyor 83for transport to and into apparatus combining the assembly of thestation FIG. 1H and FIG. 1.] of F IG. 1.

Apparatus for performing the next assembly steps as seen in FIG. 2]includes a first indexing wheel or turret 85 having a plurality ofreceiving pockets 87 provided therein. Each pocket is disposed toreceive at a lower level a cardboard tube assembly 32 and bring it inway of an inner battery assembly 27 which is delivered by means ofconveyor 90 to the same pocket 87 at an upper level of the assemblyturret 85. Cam actuated apparatus, to be hereinafter more fullydescribed, is adapted to push the battery assembly 27 into cardboardtube assembly 32 to achieve the desired assembled condition. Thisassembly 33 is delivered to transfer turrent 92 where it is delivered toassembly turret 94 where it is brought to and into a receiving pocket 95and over the open top of outer steel tube 34 which is delivered byconveyor 96 to the assembly turret 94. By means of cam actuatedapparatus, to be more fully described hereinafter, the now assembledbattery except for the top closing and sealing referred to in FIG. 1Kthrough FIG. 1P is delivered as product 36 on conveyor 100 to furtherand final assembly operations.

Assembly Apparatus as Seen in FIG. 3

Referring now to FIG. 3 it is to be noted that the assembled batterycomponents identified as assembly 36 are fed to and by means oforienting conveyor 100 to station FIG. 3K whereat a top cardboardtamping disc 37 is punched by dies 102 and 103 from strip stock 104.This disc is fed through chute 104 to the top of assembly 36. Disc 37 ispushed into the top of cardboard tube 28 to tamp and push the mix into atight confinement with no voids in the wet mix. This assembled batterycomponent is next fed to the station depicted as FIG. 1L where fromanother strip of stock another cardboard disc 38 is punched, deliveredto and inserted into the cardboard tube. This product is carried byorienting conveyor 100 to station FIG. 3M where pitch applying mechanismincludes a tank 110 which contains a heated and fluid sealing material40. Some asphalt materials are heated to more than four hundred degreesfarenheit. This tank 110 preferably has a multiplicity of spouts 41having selective dispensing means adapted to deliver a determined amountof heated pitch or like sealing means into the top of each container 39.The container, with a determined amount of pitch or like sealing means,is carried in way of apparatus for dispensing and inserting sealerretaining disc 43. This station is identified as FIG. 1N and the productas 42. From station FIG. 1N the battery subassembly 42 is fed to stationFIG. 3-0 whereat a metal top cover 44 from strip stock 118 is cut andformed between and by dies 120 and 121 and is delivered by chute 122 toassembly apparatus whereat the top cover 44 is positioned to and intothe top of the cardboard tube. This assembly 45 is then advanced tostation FIG. 3? whereby means of a pressing die 130 the battery isfinish assembled.

As noted in the discussion of FIG. 1 the use of cardboard washer 43 atstation N" is merely a matter of preference as certain sealing materials40 may not require or demand an extra cardboard member. The metal end 44covers this end of the battery and only those expert in the manufactureof dry cell batteries will know whether the washer is included in thefinal product.

The punching and forming of the discs 37, 38 and 43 at stations depictedas FIGS. 1K, 1L and 1M may be made at remote stations and collated orotherwise stacked for delivery and insertion into each succeedingcardboard tube. The assembly line and the construction details of thebattery will define the resulting equipment. Whether one or moreconveyors are used to transport the components choice.

Tube Assembly Station of FIGS. 4 and 5 Referring now in particular toFIGS. 4 and 5 it is to be noted that the assembly turret 60 is carriedby a spindle 61 which spindle is intermittently rotated at a determinedspeed and degree byapparatus not shown. With the intermittent rotationof turret 60 a sequence is established where one of a series of likepins 62 is brought in way of a cardboard tube 29 which is delivereddownwardly through a chute 64 to be stopped and then supported upon asupport or retainer 67. As particularly seen in FIG. 5 a pin 62 ispositioned precisely in alignment with the supported tube when it layson the support 67 after which pusher 66, as seen in FIG. 4, pushes thetube 29 leftwardly to and onto the pin 62. The pusher then is movedrightwardly to its tube receiving position which permits the next abovetube 29 to be dropped into the receiving nest provided in support 67.Index turret 60 is then advanced one position which is considered anidle station while another tube 29 is pushed onto the next or succeedingpin 62. The intermittent movement is continued and the turret plate 60is rotated one more station to bring the cardboard tube to the sheetmetal bottom plate inserting station.

Referring now in particular to FIGS. 5 and 6 it is to be noted that atthis particular station and as carried on pin 62 the cardboard tube 29protrudes slightly from the end of the carrying pin. Fed down a chute 72is the steel bottom plate or end 30 which is engaged and positioned bymeans of a stop member 73. This bottom end is positioned so that as apusher 74 is moved leftwardly the end 30 is inserted within the bottomend of the tube 29. The steel bottom end 30 terminates its inwardmovement when the member engages the distal or right end of the pin 62.After insertion ofthe steel bottom end is-completed the turret member 60is advanced one station as the plunger pusher 74 is withdrawn. At thisnext stop the cardboard tube and inserted bottom piece are considered tobe at an idler station as no work is performed.

Forming of the End Plate as Seen In FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 is merely a matterof Referring next to the apparatus and method of form- I multaneouslywith the movement of this eccentric, a'

cam 138 also carried by shaft 132 is rotated in the clockwise directionas seen in FIG. 7. This cam 138 engages and pushes the mechanismcarrying die member rightwardly to engage a strip of metal 69 whichpreferably is coated or plated sheet steel. With this same rotation ofshaft 132 the mounted eccentric 134 is drawing arm links 136 leftwardlycausing bolster head 142 to move leftwardly to bring die 71 into aclosing condition to not only blank or cut the strip of metal 69 tocause a disc to be blanked, but at the same time to form with the die 70the bottom member 30. After the blanking and drawing to the formdepicted in FIG. 9

the dies are opened with die 70 being moved back wardly by means ofsprings, not shown, and die 71 being moved rightwardly by means of theeccentric 134 which causes arm 136 to move rightwardly and carryingheader 142 with it. No stripper or ejector pins are shown in FIGS. 8 and9, however, they are conventionally provided and are accommodated in theconstruction of the dies shown. As the dies are opened the now formedbottom plate 30 is discharged into a chute 72 to be fed in way of thecardboard tube 29 at position 2 at the station depicted in FIG. 2G.After the metal end plate 30 is pushed into the cardboard tube 29 theturret plate 60 is indexed and caused to be rotated one further stationwhich is an idle station after which it is brought to an end closingstation of the bottom plate 28 and cardboard tube 26.

Description of the Spinning Embodiment of FIG. 10

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and there is shown a closing station whichoccurs at a stop in the intermittent advancement or actuation of therotation of turret plate 60. A spinning die 76, when the pin 62 isbrought to a fixed or stop condition, is advanced and rotated by motor78 at a determined speed as for example 3,000 r.p.m. This spinning dieengages the end of the cardboard and the flange portion of the steel endplate 30 to turn and fold the members as seen in FIG. 11. After thespinning operation is completed the now assembled unit 33 isintermittently advanced on pin 62 to the next station which is an idlestation. With the advance to the next station this assembly 33 isejected from pin 62 and as seen in FIG. 2 *H" is fed to and throughchute 81 where delivery is to an infeed conveyor 83 as also depicted inFIG. 2.

Intermediate Assembly of the Battery as Seen in FIGS. 12 13 and 14Referring now to FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 there is shown apparatus for thecollation and semi-completion of the assembly of the battery. A combinedassembly apparatus is diagrammatically shown in FIG. 2J. A plan viewshowing the orientation of particular details is shown in FIG. 13. Theassembly 27 which includes the carbon rod 26, zinc shell or can and mix24 and maybe tamping washer 37 is carried on conveyor 90 to and into acontinuously rotating receiving turret 85 which is turning clockwiseasseen inFlG. 13. The receiving turret member 85 is depicted as havingformed in its periphery twenty receiving pockets 87. This multiplicityof pockets may be any desired number depending on the size of battery,size of turret and speed of'rotation. As seen in FIG. 13 each pocket hasan entering lead slope 150 permitting progressive entry into the pocket.Aligned to feed the battery assembly 27 into these pockets is thedischarge end of conveyor 90 which carries these semiassembled cells 27and conveyor 83 which carries the assembled outer cardboard shell 32.The conveying systems 90 and 83 include continuously advancing beltmembers which urge the transported components 27 and 32 toward and intoa lead slope 150 and finally into a receiving pocket 87 as an emptypocket is brought in way of a component.

As this is a high-speed assembly there is no intermittent motion withturret 85, transfer turret 92 and assembly turret 94 being rotated at aconstant rate. Carried on the upper end of a fixed pedestal member whichis inside of a spindle 152 is a fixed cam member 154 having a circularbox cam track 156 attached thereto. The receiving turret is carried byand is rotated with spindle 152 by motor means, now shown. A caninserting assembly means includes a roller 158 which is carried on andby a head member which is attached to the upper end of a guide rod 162and a pusher rod 164. These rods are arranged in a parallel and verticalmanner and are slidably mounted in a bracket 166 attached to and rotatedwith turret member 85. The upper cam 154 is fixed as is the attached boxcam track 156. As turret 85 makes a complete revolution the roller 158as controlled by cam track 156 causes one reciprocation of the plungerpin 164 to occur. As seen in FIG. 12 the plunger pin 164 is depicted asnear its upward travel which is completed as the roller 160 reaches theupper extent of the cam track 156 which occurs just at or after passingthe infeeding conveyor 90. For each receivinggroove 87 there is a caninserting assembly having both the guide rod 162 and the pusher rod 164mounted to and carried by a bracket 166 mounted on the rotating turretmember 85. As depicted in FIG. 13 there are twenty of these equallyspaced and arranged assemblies used with the turret 85. This number maybe made more or less depending on the size and the rate of production ofbatteries to be produced.

In operation the cardboard tube assemblies 32 are fed into the lowerextent of the receiving grooves 87 and are supported in a fixedcondition upon a lower plate portion 169. In the meantime, thesemicompleted cell 27 is fed by conveyor 90 to an upper extent of thereceiving groove 87 at a position just above the previously receivedcardboard tube assembly 32. The grooves 87 are contoured so that bothmembers to be assembled are in alignment. Each cardboard tube assembly32 is retained in its receiving groove as it is rotated with the turret85 by a guard ring 170 which is mounted adjacent the turret and retainsthe tube assembly 32 as it is brought in way of the upper received cellassembly 27. This cell assembly is also retained by a guard ring 171carried adjacent the upper extent of groove 87 while permitting thissubassembly 27 to drop into a partially received condition in thecardboard shell assembly 32. For the purpose of showing the turretdetails the members 169, l70and 171 are shown removed from the front ofthe apparatus and are shown as in section or at about the center of theapparatus. As the turret 85continues to be rotated clockwise, theplunger pin 164 associated with this particular groove 87 is pusheddownwardly by means of the cam track 156 and the engaged and retainedroller 158 which is moved in a prescribed manner. Plunger pin 164engages the top of the carbon rod 26 to push the member 27 into a seatedcondition in thecardboard tube assembly 32 to form a general assembly33.

Referring in particular to FIG. 13 it is to be noted that when assembly33 reaches the counterclockwise rotating transfer turret member 92 itengages guide 172 and is displaced from the receiving bracket 87 and isguided into a pocket 174 from whence it is brought in way of a pocket176 formed in turret member 94. The rotating transfer turret 92 is movedin synchronism with turret member 94 so that a deflector and retainingring or member 180 will engage the assembly 33 to direct and guide saidassembly from pocket 174 and into a pocket 176 in clockwise rotatingturret 94. Carried on a continuously moving belt or conveyor 96 is thesteel shell 34 which is urged into a nested condition in the lowerportion of pocket 176 which is immediately below the assembly receivingportion 33 of pocket 176. As the turret member 94 is rotated the steelouter shell 34 and the battery assembly 33 is brought into coincidencein a pocket 176 permitting the battery assembly 33 to drop into thesteel shell 34. A pusher rod 164 is carried by header 160 which also hasa roller 158 engaging a cam track 156 in the same manner as is used withthe pusher assembly for the turret 85. A fixed cam support 184 similarto cam support 154 carries a track 156 disposed to move support 160 andpusher rod 164 in a downward direction to cause the battery assembly 33to be urged into a seated condition in the steel shell 34. After thisassembly is accomplished as component 36 it is discharged by means ofconveyor 100 to the final sealing operation. A support plate 186 carriesthe assembly 33 from conveyor 96 to conveyor 100. In FIG. 12, the ring180 and plate 186 are shown in section and removed from the front of theapparatus.

This sealing operation includes the steps shown in FIG. 1, and are stepsshown in FIG. 1K; FIG. 1L; FIG. 1M; FIG. 1N; FIG. 1-0 and FIG. 1P, abovedescribed. The step depicted in FIG. 1K may or may not be made after thestep shown in FIG. 1E and the step shown in FIG. 1N may be omitted. Theouter protective shell 34 may be metal, plastic or coated cardboard asdesired in the final product.

Description of FIG. 14

Referring next in particular to FIG. 14 there is shown in enlarged scalea fragmentary section of turret 85, transfer turret 92 and'assemblyturret 94. As depicted turret 85 has upper and lower circular platemembers 200 and 202 spaced therebetween are ring members 204 and 206.Spacers 208, 209 and 210 are secured to these members to provide andmaintain the desired spacing of members 200, 202, 204 and 206. Thereceiving pockets 87 in members 200 and 204 are sized to receive andretain battery assembly 27. The receiving pockets 87 in members 206 and202 are sized to receive the cardboard tube assembly 33. A fixed drum212 carries upper cam member 154a and lower cam member 154 to providethe box cam 154 and the cam groove or track 156 established betweenthese attached and spaced portions.

The transfer turret 92, as depicted, is carried by shaft 220 rotatablycarried in a bearing 222 carried by and in table or base 224. A lowerdisc 226 acts as a support member for the battery assembly 33 and saidassembly is transferred from turret 85 to assembly turret 94.Intermediate disc 228 and upper disc 230 are attached to and are carriedby shoulder portions on shaft 220 as it is rotated. Pockets 174 areformed in discs 228 and 230 and are sized so as to receive, engage andretain battery assembly 33.

Assembly turret 94 is fragmentarily seen at the right side of this FIG.14. Cam 184 has upper member 184a and lower member 184b which are likecam members 154a and b except in their orientation. Cam track 156provides a guide path for the pusher roller 158. Cam portions 184a andl84b are attached to fixed drum 240 which is at a lower height than drum212. The turret 94 includes upper and lower circular plate members 242and 244. Intermediate ring members 246 and 248 are carried and retainedbetween members 242 and 244 by means of spacers 251, 252 and 253. Inmembers 242 and 246 the receiving pockets 176 are formed and sized toreceive and retain the battery component 33 from transfer turret 92. Inmembers 248 and 244 the receiving pockets 176 are aligned with thoseabove and are sized to receive and retain the outer shell 34 anddischarge assembly 36 on conveyor 100.

This view of the assembly apparatus as particularly shown in FIG. 14indicates the preferred manner of forming the three moving turrets sothat the transporting pockets will intersect and overlap. As shown themembers 202, 206 and 204 are sized and spaced to pass above plate 226and between members 228 and 230. These members in turn pass above ringmember 248 and between ring 246 and top plate 242. The pocket 87 isbrought into coincidence with pocket 174 at a point which intersects atheoretical line connecting the axis of the shafts of turret and turret92. In a like manner pocket 174 is brought into coincidence with pocket176 at a point which intersects a theoretical line connecting the axisof the shafts of turret 92 and turret 94.

Cam of FIG. 15

Referring next to FIG. 15 there is depicted a roll out view of the camtrack 156. In practice this track provides the same function in both cam154 and 184. The orientation of the cam and the necessity of having thepusher at the maximum height at lesat at the time of insertion of theupper component into the turret is the important factor to beconsidered. At the time of discharge of the assembly from the turret thepin 164 must have gone to the low limit and be lifted from engagementwith the assembly being made.

Assuming that A is a low point on the cam track a determinded rise suchas about three inches will be achieved as the roller moves up the trackto point B? From point B to point C the roller is at its maximum heightand then at point C begins to move downwardly to point D which is at thelow level and from D to A the roller remains or dwells at a low point.

Referring to FIG. 13 it is contemplated that point A on turret 85 willbe fifty to sixty degrees before termination of guide 170 which occursat the transfer to intermediate turret 92. Point B which is the maximumheight on this turret is midway between the inlet points of conveyorsand 83. Point C is where the track begins to carry roller 158 andplunger 164 downwardly to insert the battery assembly 27 into thecardboard tube assembly 32. Point C begins just past or to the left ofinlet conveyor 90 and the insertion is complete at point D which isabout ninety degrees before the transfer point from turret 85 totransfer turret 92.

The track 156 in cam 184 is disposed to cooperate with assembly turret94 as follows. Point A is a short distance to the right of outletconveyor 100. Point B which corresponds to the maximum rise is justbefore transfer turret 92 reaches turret 94. Point C which correspondsto the beginning of the downward push or fall of the pin 164 occurs ashort distance to the right of or subsequent to the insertion of theouter shell 34 from conveyor 96. Point D occurs about thirty degreesbefore or to the right of the outlet conveyor 100.

The rise and fall of the cam track 156, of course, is of such an extentas to provide the desired insertion stroke and the necessary safetyclearance to avoid engagement of pin 164 with the components as carriedby the corresponding turret. The positioning and the correspondingcontour of the cam track is dependent upon the placement of theinfeeding and delivery conveyors. The above description hence is onlyillustrative of the embodiment shown.

Top Cover of FIG. 16

Referring finally to FIG. 16, there is depicted a die such as seen inFIG. 9 but with the center portion 275 of the die contoured to receiveand engage the top of the carbon rod 26 at the final assembly of thebattery. To form this top cover 44 dies 277 and 278 are actuated by themechanism of FIG. 7.

It is to be noted that protectivesleeve 34 may be omitted and thatcardboard sleeve 29 may be made of plastic, fiber, treated cardboard orother insulating material in which case the transfer turret 92 andassembly turret 94 are not used. Such a dry cell battery assembly isprovided when desired by the customer. The continuous motion assemblyturret 85 would then have conveyor 100 disposed to receive the assembledcomponent 33 as it reaches the indicated transfer point.

It is to be further noted that transfer turret 92 may be omitted and theturrets 85 and 94 be directly intermeshed. This, of course, requires oneturret to turn clockwise and one counterclockwise and the support of thecomponents during transfer becomes a little complicated, but it can beachieved. However, for high speed operation the embodiment of FIG. 13 ispreferred.

Terms such as left, right," up, down, bottom, top, front, back, in,"out, clockwise. counterclockwise" and the like are applicable to theembodiment shown and described in conjunction with the drawings. Theseterms are merely for the purposes'of description and do not necessarilyapply to the position in which the dry cell assembly apparatus may beconstructed or used.

While a particular embodiment of the assembly apparatus and method ofassembly have been shown and described it is to be understood theinvention is not limited thereto since modifications may be made withinthe scope of the accompanying claims and protection is sought to thebroadest extent the prior art allows.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for automatically assembling the components of a dry celltype battery, said apparatus including: (a) means for supplying andassembling a battery subassembly including a zinc case, a porous linerwithin said case, a determined supply of mix placed within said liner, acarbon rod inserted into said mix and a tamping disc installed on top ofsaid mix and adapted to retain this mix within said liner and aroundsaid rod; (b) a supply of outer insulated sleeve assemblies, eachassembly including a bottom metal member and a tubular, sleeve with thesleeve portion being a sliding fit with the outside of said zinc case;(c) a first rotating turret having a multiplicity of receiving pocketsformed in the outer periphery of the turret, said pockets sized toreceive and retain the outer insulated sleeve assembly at a determinedlower level and the battery subassembly at an upper level; (d) conveyingmeans for receiving, transporting and delivering a supply of outersleeve assemblies for single file insertion to and into the receivingpockets of the turret; (e) conveying means for receiving, transportingand delivering a supply of battery subassemblies for single fileinsertion to and into the receiving pockets of the turret, said meansincluding means to insure that said subassemblies are released to enteran open top of a lower outer insulated sleeve assembly subsequent to thedelivery of said sleeve assemblies into the pocket of the turret; (f) aplunger associated with each receiving pocket, said plunger adapted toengage the top of the subassembly and to pushthe subassembly into theouter insulated sleeve assembly, and (g) means to move the plunger,during the rotation of the turret, said movement providing for raisingthe plunger to a position above the subassembly at and during thereceiving of a subassembly into a pocket after which this plunger ismoved toward the subassembly and continues until such move ment is of anextent sufficient to fully insert the subassembly into the outer sleeveassembly to provide a semi-complete battery after which the plunger israised as and during the discharge of the semi-complete battery from theturret.

2. Apparatus for automatically assembling a dry cell as in claim 1 inwhich the battery is provided with a protective outer shell, said shellslidably receiving and retaining the semi-complete battery, the assemblyapparatus combined with the first rotating turret to provide: a transferturret rotating in timed relationship with the first turret and having amultiplicity of receiving pockets shaped and positioned to receive thesemicomplete battery and to transfer saidbattery to an assembly turretwhere a multiplicity of receiving pockets receives the semi-completebattery and in which there is provided a conveying means for receiving,transporting and delivering a supply of protective outer shells to andinto the receiving turret and at a level which is below the receivinglevel of the semi-complete battery; a plunger associated. with eachreceiving pocket of the assembly turret, said plunger adapted to engagethe top of the semi-complete battery and to push this semicompletebattery into a protective outer shell which has been fed to and is inthe receiving pocket at a position immediately below and aligned withthe semi-complete battery, and means to move the plunger during therotation of the assembly turret, said movement providing for raising theplunger to a position above the semicomplete battery at and during thereceiving of said semi-complete battery into a pocket and to then movethe plunger toward the semi-complete battery and to continue suchmovement to an extent sufficient to fully insert the semi-completebattery into the protective outer shell to provide a battery completeexcept for sealing andclosing and to then raise the plunger as andduring the discharge of the battery member from the assembly turret.

3. Apparatus for automatically assembling a dry cell battery asin claim2 in which the means to move each plunger is a fixedcam carried abovethe rotating turret and the plunger is actuated by a cam roller engagingsaid cam, each roller being carried by a support means attached to theupper end of the plunger.

4. Apparatus for automatically assembling a dry cell battery as in claim1 in which the turret is continuously rotated. I

5. Apparatus for automatically assembling a dry cell as in claim 1 inwhich the outer insulated sleeve assembly is made from a cardboard tube:and ametal bottom member.

6. Apparatus for automatically assembling a dry cell as in claim 5 inwhich the cardboard tube assembly is made by apparatus which includes:an indexed moving head member having a multiplicity of support pinscarried thereby; a delivery chute disposed to deliver in a single filearray a cardboard tube brought into a stopped and supported alignmentwith a support pin; pusher means for moving said tube onto a support pinso that a portion of the outer end of the tube is open and extendingfrom the pin; means for moving the head member so that the pin andsupported tube are brought in way of a metal end member delivered in asingle file array to a stopped and supported alignment with the openouter end of the cardboard tube and with a pusher means for insertingsaid end member into the end of the tube; means for moving the headmember so that the pin with the supported tube and inserted end isbrought in way of an edge seaming means for turning the end of the tubeand the outer edge of the end member into a retaining assembly, andmeans for ejecting and delivering said cardboard tube assembly to theconveyor means for delivering the outer insulated sleeve assemblies tothe turret.

7. Apparatus for automatically assembling a dry cell as in claim 6 inwhich the indexed moving head member is a disc rotatably carried on aspindle driven by indexing mechanism.

8. Apparatus for automatically assembling a dry cell as in claim 6 inwhich the edge seaming means is a spinning die driven by a motor, saiddie being selectively moved into spinning assembly condition as thesupport pin is maintained for a determined time at an at rest condition.

9. Apparatus for automatically assembling a dry cell as in claim 6 inwhich the metal end member is cut and formed from an advanced strip ofmetal by a pair of mating compound dies carried by and moved by a doubleacting press.

10. Apparatus for automatically assembling a dry cell as in claim 1 inwhich the battery subassembly is fed to apparatus wherein a sealantsupporting washer made from an insulating material such as cardboard ismounted in the top of the zinc case to provide a determined spacebetween the tamping disc and the sealant washer after which a sealant isfed to the top of the battery after which at least a top metal end plateis mounted and swaged to the outer insulated sleeve, said top metal endplate engaging the top of the carbon rod so as to conduct currenttherefrom and provide one of the two battery conductive contacts,

11. A method for automatically assembling the components of a dry celltype battery, said method including the steps of: (a) supplying andassembling a battery subassembly which includes a zinc case, a fluidconductive liner within said case, a determined supply of wet mix placedwithin said liner, a carbon rod inserted into said mix and a tampingdisc installed on top of said mix so as to retain this mix within theliner and around said rod; (b) providing a supply of outer sleeveassemblies including a tubular member attached to a bottom metal member,said tubular member being a sliding fit with the outside of said zinccase; (c) conveying said supply of outer sleeve assemblies so as toprovide a single file delivery of one sleeve assembly to one ofamultiplicity of receiving pockets in a rotatable turret, said deliverybeing to a lower level in said pocket; (d) conveying said supply ofbattery subassemblies so as to provide a single file of a subassemblydelivery to one of the multiplicity of receiving pockets in therotatable turret, said delivery of the subassemblies being at a levelabove the sleeve assemblies delivery and subsequent thereto; (e)reciprocably moving a plunger associated with each receiving pocket,said plunger during its downward movement adapted to engage the top ofthe subassembly and to push the subassembly into the lower outer sleeveassembly to provide a semi-complete battery and during upward movementto permit discharge of the semi-complete battery from the turret, and(f) discharging the semi-complete battery from a pocket in the turret.

12. A method for automatically assembling a dry cell as in claim 11which includes the rotation of the turret at a continuous speed.

13. A method for automatically assembling a dry cell as in claim 11 inwhich theassembling of the battery components further includes atransfer turret and a third assembling turret meshed and rotating inconcert and at substantially the same peripheral speed, this assemblyincluding the further steps of: transferring the semicomplete batteryassembly to a receiving pocket in a turning second step transfer turret;transferring this semi-complete battery assembly to a receiving pocketin a turning third step assembly turret, said transfer occurring at adetermined level; conveying a series of outer protective shells anddelivering same in a single file array to a receiving pocket in theturning third step assembly turret, said transfer occurring at a levellower than and subsequent to the delivery of the semicomplete battery,and reciprocably moving a plunger associated with each receiving pocketof the third step turret, said plunger during its downward movementadapted to engage the top of the semi-complete battery and to push saidbattery into a lower outer protective shell to provide a batteryassembly during upward movement to permit discharge of this batteryassembly from the turret, and discharging the battery assembly from apocket in the third step assembly turret.

14. A method for automatically assembling a dry cell as in claim 11 inwhich the outer insulated assembly includes a cardboard tube attached atone end to a metal bottom disc, the steps of assembling said insulatedouter assembly including: rotating in an indexed manner a head memberhaving a multiplicity of support pins mounted thereon; delivering in asingle file array a supply of cardboard tubes and stopping andpositioning one of said tubes in alignment with a support pin; pushingthis positioned tube onto said pin and then advancing the turret tobring said tube to a subsequent assembly station; delivering in a singlefile array a supply of sheet metal end members and stopping andpositioning one ofsaid members in alignment with the open end of thetube as carried on the pin; pushing this end member into the end of thetube and then advancing the turret to bring this assembly to asubsequent assembly station where the tube and end are retained on aretaining pin in a fixed alignment; advancing and rotating a spinningdie to fold and seal by spinning the cardboard tube to the metal endmember, and advancing this assembly to a discharge station and removingthis outer insulated assembly from its supporting retaining pin.

15. A method for automatically assembling a dry cell as in claim 14 inwhich the metal end member used in the cardboard tube assembly is formedand delivered to the assembly operation by the following steps:advancing a strip of electrically conductive material such as metal toand between a pair of mated compound dies, advancing said dies towardeach other in a determined sequence and to a determined limit by adouble acting press to cut and then form said end member and deliveringsaid formed end member to the assembly station by ejecting the memberfrom the die and transporting the end member in a single file array toand through a delivery chute.

16. A method for automatically assembling a dry cell as in claim inwhich the battery subassembly is finished as an assembly by thefollowing steps: transporting said subassembly to a further stationwhereat there is performed the step of forming and inserting a sealantsupporting washer into the open end of the zinc case; advancing thisassembly and positioning said assembly in way of a sealant dischargespout and discharging a determind determined of sealant into the topofthe battery assembly; moving this battery assembly to cover applyingstation where there is performed the step of inserting a topelectrically conductive member after to a final station and closing saidend of the battery by 18 swaging, spinning and the like.

17. A method for automatically assembling a dry cell as in claim 16 inwhich the final assembly of the battery includes the step of formingand] inserting a sealantcovering insulating washer into the top of thebattery after the step of depositing of the sealant and prior to thestep of inserting the top cover member.

18. A method for automatically assembling a dry cell as in claim 16 inwhich the step of inserting the top electrically conductive memberincludes the steps of: advancing a strip of electrically conductivematerial to and between a pair of mated compound dies, advancing saiddies toward each other in a determined sequence and to a determinedlimit by a double acting press to cut and then form said top member anddelivering said formed top member to the assembly station by ejectingthe member from the die and transporting the top member in a single filearray to and through a delivery chute.

1. Apparatus for automatically assembling the components of a dry celltype battery, said apparatus including: (a) means for supplying andassembling a battery subassembly including a zinc case, a porous linerwithin said case, a determined supply of mix placed within said liner, acarbon rod inserted into said mix and a tamping disc installed on top ofsaid mix and adapted to retain this mix within said liner and aroundsaid rod; (b) a supply of outer insulated sleeve assemblies, eachassembly including a bottom metal member and a tubulaR sleeve with thesleeve portion being a sliding fit with the outside of said zinc case;(c) a first rotating turret having a multiplicity of receiving pocketsformed in the outer periphery of the turret, said pockets sized toreceive and retain the outer insulated sleeve assembly at a determinedlower level and the battery subassembly at an upper level; (d) conveyingmeans for receiving, transporting and delivering a supply of outersleeve assemblies for single file insertion to and into the receivingpockets of the turret; (e) conveying means for receiving, transportingand delivering a supply of battery subassemblies for single fileinsertion to and into the receiving pockets of the turret, said meansincluding means to insure that said subassemblies are released to enteran open top of a lower outer insulated sleeve assembly subsequent to thedelivery of said sleeve assemblies into the pocket of the turret; (f) aplunger associated with each receiving pocket, said plunger adapted toengage the top of the subassembly and to push the subassembly into theouter insulated sleeve assembly, and (g) means to move the plungerduring the rotation of the turret, said movement providing for raisingthe plunger to a position above the subassembly at and during thereceiving of a subassembly into a pocket after which this plunger ismoved toward the subassembly and continues until such movement is of anextent sufficient to fully insert the subassembly into the outer sleeveassembly to provide a semi-complete battery after which the plunger israised as and during the discharge of the semi-complete battery from theturret.
 2. Apparatus for automatically assembling a dry cell as in claim1 in which the battery is provided with a protective outer shell, saidshell slidably receiving and retaining the semi-complete battery, theassembly apparatus combined with the first rotating turret to provide: atransfer turret rotating in timed relationship with the first turret andhaving a multiplicity of receiving pockets shaped and positioned toreceive the semi-complete battery and to transfer said battery to anassembly turret where a multiplicity of receiving pockets receives thesemi-complete battery and in which there is provided a conveying meansfor receiving, transporting and delivering a supply of protective outershells to and into the receiving turret and at a level which is belowthe receiving level of the semi-complete battery; a plunger associatedwith each receiving pocket of the assembly turret, said plunger adaptedto engage the top of the semi-complete battery and to push thissemi-complete battery into a protective outer shell which has been fedto and is in the receiving pocket at a position immediately below andaligned with the semi-complete battery, and means to move the plungerduring the rotation of the assembly turret, said movement providing forraising the plunger to a position above the semi-complete battery at andduring the receiving of said semi-complete battery into a pocket and tothen move the plunger toward the semi-complete battery and to continuesuch movement to an extent sufficient to fully insert the semi-completebattery into the protective outer shell to provide a battery completeexcept for sealing and closing and to then raise the plunger as andduring the discharge of the battery member from the assembly turret. 3.Apparatus for automatically assembling a dry cell battery as in claim 2in which the means to move each plunger is a fixed cam carried above therotating turret and the plunger is actuated by a cam roller engagingsaid cam, each roller being carried by a support means attached to theupper end of the plunger.
 4. Apparatus for automatically assembling adry cell battery as in claim 1 in which the turret is continuouslyrotated.
 5. Apparatus for automatically assembling a dry cell as inclaim 1 in which the outer insulated sleeve assembly is made from acardboard tube and a metal bottom member.
 6. Apparatus for automaticallyAssembling a dry cell as in claim 5 in which the cardboard tube assemblyis made by apparatus which includes: an indexed moving head memberhaving a multiplicity of support pins carried thereby; a delivery chutedisposed to deliver in a single file array a cardboard tube brought intoa stopped and supported alignment with a support pin; pusher means formoving said tube onto a support pin so that a portion of the outer endof the tube is open and extending from the pin; means for moving thehead member so that the pin and supported tube are brought in way of ametal end member delivered in a single file array to a stopped andsupported alignment with the open outer end of the cardboard tube andwith a pusher means for inserting said end member into the end of thetube; means for moving the head member so that the pin with thesupported tube and inserted end is brought in way of an edge seamingmeans for turning the end of the tube and the outer edge of the endmember into a retaining assembly, and means for ejecting and deliveringsaid cardboard tube assembly to the conveyor means for delivering theouter insulated sleeve assemblies to the turret.
 7. Apparatus forautomatically assembling a dry cell as in claim 6 in which the indexedmoving head member is a disc rotatably carried on a spindle driven byindexing mechanism.
 8. Apparatus for automatically assembling a dry cellas in claim 6 in which the edge seaming means is a spinning die drivenby a motor, said die being selectively moved into spinning assemblycondition as the support pin is maintained for a determined time at an''''at rest'''' condition.
 9. Apparatus for automatically assembling adry cell as in claim 6 in which the metal end member is cut and formedfrom an advanced strip of metal by a pair of mating compound diescarried by and moved by a double acting press.
 10. Apparatus forautomatically assembling a dry cell as in claim 1 in which the batterysubassembly is fed to apparatus wherein a sealant supporting washer madefrom an insulating material such as cardboard is mounted in the top ofthe zinc case to provide a determined space between the tamping disc andthe sealant washer after which a sealant is fed to the top of thebattery after which at least a top metal end plate is mounted and swagedto the outer insulated sleeve, said top metal end plate engaging the topof the carbon rod so as to conduct current therefrom and provide one ofthe two battery conductive contacts.
 11. A method for automaticallyassembling the components of a dry cell type battery, said methodincluding the steps of: (a) supplying and assembling a batterysubassembly which includes a zinc case, a fluid conductive liner withinsaid case, a determined supply of wet mix placed within said liner, acarbon rod inserted into said mix and a tamping disc installed on top ofsaid mix so as to retain this mix within the liner and around said rod;(b) providing a supply of outer sleeve assemblies including a tubularmember attached to a bottom metal member, said tubular member being asliding fit with the outside of said zinc case; (c) conveying saidsupply of outer sleeve assemblies so as to provide a single filedelivery of one sleeve assembly to one of a multiplicity of receivingpockets in a rotatable turret, said delivery being to a lower level insaid pocket; (d) conveying said supply of battery subassemblies so as toprovide a single file of a subassembly delivery to one of themultiplicity of receiving pockets in the rotatable turret, said deliveryof the subassemblies being at a level above the sleeve assembliesdelivery and subsequent thereto; (e) reciprocably moving a plungerassociated with each receiving pocket, said plunger during its downwardmovement adapted to engage the top of the subassembly and to push thesubassembly into the lower outer sleeve assembly to provide asemi-complete battery and during upward movement to permit discharge ofthe semi-complete battery from the turret, and (f) discharging thesemi-cOmplete battery from a pocket in the turret.
 12. A method forautomatically assembling a dry cell as in claim 11 which includes therotation of the turret at a continuous speed.
 13. A method forautomatically assembling a dry cell as in claim 11 in which theassembling of the battery components further includes a transfer turretand a third assembling turret meshed and rotating in concert and atsubstantially the same peripheral speed, this assembly including thefurther steps of: transferring the semi-complete battery assembly to areceiving pocket in a turning second step transfer turret; transferringthis semi-complete battery assembly to a receiving pocket in a turningthird step assembly turret, said transfer occurring at a determinedlevel; conveying a series of outer protective shells and delivering samein a single file array to a receiving pocket in the turning third stepassembly turret, said transfer occurring at a level lower than andsubsequent to the delivery of the semi-complete battery, andreciprocably moving a plunger associated with each receiving pocket ofthe third step turret, said plunger during its downward movement adaptedto engage the top of the semi-complete battery and to push said batteryinto a lower outer protective shell to provide a battery assembly duringupward movement to permit discharge of this battery assembly from theturret, and discharging the battery assembly from a pocket in the thirdstep assembly turret.
 14. A method for automatically assembling a drycell as in claim 11 in which the outer insulated assembly includes acardboard tube attached at one end to a metal bottom disc, the steps ofassembling said insulated outer assembly including: rotating in anindexed manner a head member having a multiplicity of support pinsmounted thereon; delivering in a single file array a supply of cardboardtubes and stopping and positioning one of said tubes in alignment with asupport pin; pushing this positioned tube onto said pin and thenadvancing the turret to bring said tube to a subsequent assemblystation; delivering in a single file array a supply of sheet metal endmembers and stopping and positioning one of said members in alignmentwith the open end of the tube as carried on the pin; pushing this endmember into the end of the tube and then advancing the turret to bringthis assembly to a subsequent assembly station where the tube and endare retained on a retaining pin in a fixed alignment; advancing androtating a spinning die to fold and seal by spinning the cardboard tubeto the metal end member, and advancing this assembly to a dischargestation and removing this outer insulated assembly from its supportingretaining pin.
 15. A method for automatically assembling a dry cell asin claim 14 in which the metal end member used in the cardboard tubeassembly is formed and delivered to the assembly operation by thefollowing steps: advancing a strip of electrically conductive materialsuch as metal to and between a pair of mated compound dies, advancingsaid dies toward each other in a determined sequence and to a determinedlimit by a double acting press to cut and then form said end member anddelivering said formed end member to the assembly station by ejectingthe member from the die and transporting the end member in a single filearray to and through a delivery chute.
 16. A method for automaticallyassembling a dry cell as in claim 15 in which the battery subassembly isfinished as an assembly by the following steps: transporting saidsubassembly to a further station whereat there is performed the step offorming and inserting a sealant supporting washer into the open end ofthe zinc case; advancing this assembly and positioning said assembly inway of a sealant discharge spout and discharging a determind determinedof sealant into the top of the battery assembly; moving this batteryassembly to cover applying station where there is performed the step ofinserting a top electrically conductive member after whicH the batteryis finished by transporting the battery to a final station and closingsaid end of the battery by swaging, spinning and the like.
 17. A methodfor automatically assembling a dry cell as in claim 16 in which thefinal assembly of the battery includes the step of forming and insertinga sealant-covering insulating washer into the top of the battery afterthe step of depositing of the sealant and prior to the step of insertingthe top cover member.
 18. A method for automatically assembling a drycell as in claim 16 in which the step of inserting the top electricallyconductive member includes the steps of: advancing a strip ofelectrically conductive material to and between a pair of mated compounddies, advancing said dies toward each other in a determined sequence andto a determined limit by a double acting press to cut and then form saidtop member and delivering said formed top member to the assembly stationby ejecting the member from the die and transporting the top member in asingle file array to and through a delivery chute.